Ex-editor waives hearing

OSSIPEE - A retired newspaper editor charged with possession of child pornography appeared in 3rd Circuit District Court with his attorney on Wednesday afternoon where he waived his right to a probable cause hearing.

Edward C. Domaingue II, 64, of Ormond Beach, Fla., who owns a summer home in Wakefield, was charged with one count of possession of child pornography on March 15 following an investigation by the Wakefield Police Department.

Domaingue, who worked for the Union Leader for many years, appeared with his attorney, David Ruoff of Howard and Ruoff in Manchester, before Judge Robert Varney. Varney approved the waiver of probable cause after a 30-second hearing in which no evidence or testimony was presented. Search warrants in the case have been sealed.

Because the charge is a felony, prosecutors will likely present the case to a Carroll County Superior Court grand jury later this spring.

Domaingue was released on $10,000 personal recognizance bail following his arrest, and bail conditions remained unchanged after Wednesday's hearing.

Wakefield Police Department Lt. Mark O'Brien said police launched a lengthy investigation in August 2012 after receiving information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that the suspect allegedly possessed child pornography on his computer. With that tip, Wakefield police teamed up with the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force to investigate.